[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56285-56287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24639]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF03-6-000]


Sound Energy Solutions, POLB Application No. HDP 03-079; Notice 
of Intent To Prepare a Joint Environmental Impact Statement and Notice 
of Preparation of Joint Environmental Impact Report, Application 
Summary Report for SES' Proposed Long Beach LNG Import Project, Request 
for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping 
Meeting

September 22, 2003.
    The staffs of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) and the Port of Long Beach (POLB or Port) will jointly 
prepare an environmental impact statement, an environmental impact 
report, and an application summary report (EIS/EIR/ASR) on Sound Energy 
Solutions' (SES) proposed Long Beach LNG Import Project. This notice 
announces the opening of the scoping process we \1\ will use to gather 
input from the public and interested agencies on the project. Your 
input will help us determine which issues need to be evaluated in the 
EIS/EIR/ASR. Please note that the scoping period will close on October 
30, 2003.
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    \1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental 
staffs of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects and the POLB.
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    Comments may be submitted in written form or verbally. Further 
details on how to submit written comments are provided in the public 
participation section of this notice. In lieu of sending written 
comments, we invite you to attend the public scoping meeting we have 
scheduled as follows:
    FERC/POLB Public Scoping Meeting, Long Beach LNG Import Project, 
October 9, 2003 at 7 p.m., Long Beach Convention & Entertainment 
Center, Seaside Meeting Room 301, (562) 436-3636.
    The FERC will be the lead Federal agency in the preparation of the 
EIS/EIR/ASR and the POLB will be the lead state agency for California. 
The joint document will satisfy the requirements of both the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental 
Quality Act (CEQA).
    This notice is being sent to affected landowners; POLB tenants; 
Federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; other 
interested parties; and local

[[Page 56286]]

libraries and newspapers. We encourage government representatives to 
notify their constituents of this planned project and encourage them to 
comment on their areas of concern.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    SES proposes to construct and operate a liquefied natural gas (LNG) 
import terminal facility on a 27-acre site on a portion of Pier T, 
designated Berth T-126, on Terminal Island within the Port of Long 
Beach, California. The proposed site, which was formerly part of a 
naval shipyard, would require a limited amount of dredging (between 
75,000 and 125,000 cubic yards) to support the ship berth and achieve 
uniform water depth. The dredged material would be disposed of in a 
confined landfill within the Port. The project would not require the 
intake or discharge of sea water and/or process water. During 
construction, SES would require an additional 20- to 30-acre site in 
the project area for materials storage and fabrication. The location of 
this construction laydown area has not yet been identified.
    The Long Beach LNG Import Project would provide about 700 million 
standard cubic feet of natural gas per day to the local transmission 
and distribution systems. In addition, a portion of the LNG would be 
distributed locally to fuel LNG-powered vehicles. According to SES, its 
project would provide large volumes of natural gas to southern 
California markets to enhance reliability of supply and ensure price 
competition. The distribution of LNG as vehicle fuel would enable 
diesel trucks and other vehicles to convert to natural gas, which would 
reduce vehicle pollutant emissions in the region.
    The project facilities would include:
    [sbull] a ship berth and unloading facilities capable of receiving 
LNG tankers ranging in capacity from 95,000 to 145,000 cubic meters;
    [sbull] two LNG storage tanks, each with a capacity of 160,000 
cubic meters;
    [sbull] vaporization equipment, boil-off gas compressors, and 
natural gas liquids recovery system;
    [sbull] truck loading facilities;
    [sbull] associated hazard detection, control, and prevention 
systems;
    [sbull] ancillary service facilities; and
    [sbull] up to 4.4 miles of pipeline currently proposed to 
interconnect with the existing Southern California Gas Company pipeline 
system.
    Maps depicting the proposed terminal site, site layout, and various 
pipeline routes under consideration are provided in appendix 1.\2\
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    \2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the 
Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) at the 
``eLibrary'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference and 
Files Maintenance Branch at (202) 502-8371. For instructions on 
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the end of this notice. Copies of 
the appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the 
mail.
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    SES proposes to place the project in service in late 2007 or early 
2008. To achieve this in-service date, SES is requesting approval to 
begin construction of the terminal facilities in the fall of 2004. The 
approximate duration of construction would be 3 years.

The EIS/EIR/ASR ProcessThe FERC will use the EIS/EIR/ASR to consider 
the environmental impact that could result if it issues SES an Order 
Authorizing Approval of a Place of Import under Section 3 of the 
Natural Gas Act. The POLB will use the document to determine the 
project's consistency with the certified Port Master Plan and the 
California Coastal Act as well as to consider the environmental impact 
that could result if it issues SES a Harbor Development Permit.

    This notice formally announces our preparation of the EIS/EIR/ASR 
and the beginning of the process referred to as ``scoping.'' We are 
soliciting input from the public and interested agencies to help us 
focus the analysis in the EIS/EIR/ASR on the potentially significant 
environmental issues related to the proposed action.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in a draft 
EIS/EIR/ASR. The draft EIS/EIR/ASR will be mailed to Federal, state, 
and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and 
public interest groups; Native American tribes; affected landowners; 
POLB tenants; other interested parties; local libraries and newspapers; 
and the FERC's official service list for this proceeding. A 45-day 
comment period will be allotted for review of the draft EIS/EIR/ASR. We 
will consider all comments on the draft EIS/EIR/ASR and revise the 
document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS/EIR/ASR.
    The POLB is initiating its CEQA review based on SES' submittal of a 
Harbor Development Permit application on July 25, 2003. Although no 
formal application for import authorization has been filed, the FERC 
staff is initiating its NEPA review now. The purpose of the FERC's NEPA 
Pre-filing Process is to encourage the early involvement of interested 
stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before an application 
is filed with the FERC. The POLB has agreed to conduct its CEQA review 
in conjunction with the NEPA Pre-filing Process. A diagram depicting 
the lead agencies' joint environmental review process is attached to 
this notice as appendix 2.
    We have held early discussions with other jurisdictional agencies 
to identify their issues and concerns. These agencies include the 
California Coastal Commission; California Department of Fish and Game; 
National Marine Fisheries Service; Regional Water Quality Control 
Board, Los Angeles Region; South Coast Air Quality Management District; 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), U.S. Coast Guard; and U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service. By this notice, we are asking these and other 
Federal, state, and local agencies with jurisdiction and/or special 
expertise with respect to environmental issues to formally cooperate 
with us in the preparation of the EIS/EIR/ASR. Agencies that would like 
to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing 
comments provided below. Currently, the ACOE has expressed its 
intention to participate as a cooperating agency in the preparation of 
the EIS/EIR/ASR to satisfy its NEPA responsibilities under Section 404 
of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the proposal. Your comments should focus on 
the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives (including 
alternative terminal sites and pipeline routes), and measures to avoid 
or lessen environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the 
more useful they will be. To ensure that your comments are timely and 
properly recorded, please mail your comments so that they will be 
received in Washington, DC on or before October 30, 2003, and carefully 
follow these instructions:
    [sbull] Send an original and two copies of your letter to:
    Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
888 First St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
    [sbull] Label one copy of your comments for the attention of Gas 
Branch 1, DG2E;
    [sbull] Reference Docket No. PF03-6-000 on the original and both 
copies;
    [sbull] Send an additional copy of your letter to: Robert Kanter, 
Ph.D., Planning Division, 925 Harbor Plaza, Port of Long Beach, Long 
Beach, CA 90807; and
    [sbull] Reference Application No. HDP 03-079 on your letter.

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    The public scoping meeting to be held on October 9, 2003 at the 
Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center is designed to provide 
another opportunity to offer comments on the proposed project. 
Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend the meeting 
and to present comments on the environmental issues they believe should 
be addressed in the EIS/EIR/ASR. A transcript of the meeting will be 
made so that your comments will be accurately recorded.
    Please note that the FERC is continuing to experience delays in 
mail deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service. Therefore, the Commission 
encourages electronic filing of comments. See 18 Code of Federal 
Regulations 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the 
Commission's Internet Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the 
``eFiling'' link and the link to the User's Guide. Prepare your 
submission in the same manner as you would if filing on paper and save 
it to a file on your hard drive. Before you can file comments you will 
need to create an account by clicking on ``Login to File'' and then 
``New User Account.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing 
you are making. This filing is considered a ``Comment on Filing.''

Availability of Additional Information

    Additional information about the project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs at 1-866-208 FERC (3372) or on 
the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov ). Using the 
``eLibrary'' link, select ``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu, 
enter the selected date range and ``Docket Number'' (i.e., PF03-6-000), 
and follow the instructions. Searches may also be done using the phrase 
``Long Beach LNG'' in the ``Text Search'' field. For assistance with 
access to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at 1-866-208-3676, TTY 
(202) 502-8659, or at FERCOnlineSupport@ ferc.gov. The eLibrary link on 
the FERC Internet Web site also provides access to the texts of formal 
documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule 
makings.
    In addition, the FERC now offers a free service called 
eSubscription that allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and 
submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you 
spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with 
notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to 
the documents. To register for this service, go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
    Information about the project is also available from the POLB. You 
may call the POLB Environmental Planning Section at 562-590-4160 or e-
mail questions and comments to the POLB at [email protected].
    Finally, SES has established an Internet Web site for this project 
at http://www.soundenergysolutions.com. The Web site includes a 
description of the project, maps and photographs of the proposed site, 
SES' answers to frequently asked questions about LNG, and links to 
related documents.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-24639 Filed 9-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P